Fire-ladder



No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 1.

' J. PAULY & M. MICHELS. f

FIRE LADDER.

No. 517,932. Patented Apr. 10, 189.4.

I g C 6 Sheets--Sheet 2.

(No Model.) v

' J. PAULY 811 M. MICHELS.

' FIRE LADDER.

No. 517,932. I Patented Apr. 10, 1894.

- g a I k W fig M a Q 5 Q Q b (No Modem 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. PAULY 82; M. MIGHELS.

FIRE LADDER ,932. Patented Apr. 10, 1894.

(No Model.) e Sheets-Sheet 4.

. J. PAULY 81: M. MIGHELS.

FIRE LADDER.

Patented Apr. 10, 1894.

Mia/10am.) v s Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. PAULY &' M. MICHELS.

' FIRE LADDER.

6 SheetsSheet 6.

(N0 MOGGI.) & M FIRE LADDER.

No. 517,932. Patented Apr. 10, 1894;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- J OSEPH PAULY AND MICHEL MIOHELS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,932, dated April 10, 1894.

Application filed October 12, 1891- Serial No. 408,446- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH PAULY and MICHEL MICHELS, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Fire- Ladders; and we do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and,use the same. I

This invention relates to a novel constructlon in fire ladders and trucks and relates more particularly to a fire ladder, truck and hose carriage, the object being to provide a device of this character that is durable in construction and eflicient in operation.

To this and other useful ends our invention conslsts in. the features of construction and comblnations of parts hereinafter fully descr bed and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating our invention: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fire ladder, truck and hose carriage constructed in accordance with our invention. Flg. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan v1ew of our invention. Fig. 4. is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section of a pawl and ratchet device for controlling the ladder reel. Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspectwo views of the pawl and ratchet device for controlling the hose reel. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of. the truck-with the ladders and other parts removed and partly broken away to show the construction for swinging the forward end of the truck. Fig. 8 is a side elevation in detail on an enlarged scale illustrating the devices for elevating the fire ladder. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the track-way and support for the lower lazy tongs. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the ladder whenit is elevated and tipped backwardly. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing the upper end of the ladder and the manner in which it is connected with a window or other opening of the building. Fig.12 is a detail plan view of the hose tongs at the upper end of the ladder. Fig.'l3 is a rear elevation of the devicewhen theladder is elevated. Fig. 14 is a side elevation partly broken away of the adjustable side supports of the ladder. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the winding device for hoisting the life-car. Fig. 16 is a sectional view of the same on the line 1616.

Referring now to said drawings A indicates the forward wheels and B the hind wheels of the fire ladder truck. A bed 0 is mounted upon said running gear and is rigidly attached to the hind axle Bin anyconvenient manner. At its forward end said bed 0 is provided with a guide (Fig. 1) that receives a segmental slide 2 carried by the truck-of the forward wheels A. In this way it will be seen that the forward end of the truck can be moved with relation to its running gear and to accomplish such movement said slide 2 is provided with a rack bar 3 (Fig. 7) secured to the running gear of theforward wheels A and which is engaged bya pinion 4 carried by a shaft 5 on said bed 0.

It will be readily seen that by turning the shaft 5 the forward end of the bed can be thrown to one side or the other as desired. This movement of the forward end of the truck is designed to change the position of the upper end of the fire ladder when the ladder is elevated and will be referred to more particularly hereinafter.

This invention comprises as essential features an extensible frame constructed on what is known as the lazy tongs system and a flexible ladder that has one end connected with the upper end of the lazy tongs, so that when the system of lazy tong lovers are elevated the ladder will be carried with it. The extensible frame is supported. upon a swinging frame D, this frame is pivoted near its rear end as at 6 (Figs. 1 andlO) to the'bedO while its forward end rests thereon. Along thesides of the frame the track-ways 7 are formed and the lower legs 8 of the lazy tong levers (Figs. 8 and 9) are provided with rollers 9 which travel upon these track-ways 7 in an obvious manner. The lower ends of the said legs 8 are provided with friction rollers 10 which are located under the overhanging ledges 11, thus preventing the lower end of said lazy tong levers from rising from the track-ways 7. The said system of lazy tong levers comprise two sets or series (Figs. 3 and 13) that are connected together by suitable cross-pieces 12. For extending or elevating the said lazy tong levers the lower end portion of the legs 8 thereof are connected by a chain, cable or strand 13 with two drums 14 carried by shafts 15 supported in suitable bearings at the sides of the frame D. At one end thereof the said shafts 15 are provided with gear wheels 16 and 17 that intermesh with each other and are located within suitable boxes 18. The said shafts 15 are rotated through the intermediacy of a train of gear wheels 19 and 20 that are turned by a small pinion 21 carried by the shaft 22 having a squared end, so that it may be turned by a crank. A ratchet and pawl are arranged for preventing the back rotation of said shaft 22. It will thus be seen that by turning the shaft 22 by means of the gearing described, the lower ends of the legs 8 of the lazy tong levers will be drawn together and thus extend and elevate the said system of levers in an obvious manner.

The flexible fire ladder E is connected at its upper end to the upper cross pieces 24: of the lazy tong levers, while said ladder is wound upon a reel 25 located near the forward end of the machine and supported upon posts or other suitable bearings upon the bed a O of the truck. The said reel 25 is free to move when the ratchet wheel 26 thereof is not engaged by the pawl 27 (Figs. 1 and 4). The said reel is also provided with handles 28 by means of which it can be turned to tighten the ladder E after the same has been unwound or to wind up the said ladder E when the lazy tong levers are being lowered.

It will be plainly seen when the lazy tong levers are elevated and the reel is not engaged by the pawl 27 that said lazy tong levers will carry the ladder E with it as shown (Figs. 10 and 13). The pawl27is pivoted upon a support 29 and a spring 30 bears against the rear end of said pawl 27 to hold it in engagement with the ratchet 26. Said pawl however, is provided with a downwardly projecting arm 31 that rests upon a sliding bar 32 having an inclined edge 33. Thesaid bar 32 is connected with a vibrating lever 34 that is also pivoted to the arm 29. When the bar 32 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the pawl 27 will engage the ratchet and if said bar 32 is drawn to the left in Fig. 4the inclined edge 33 will raise the pawl 27 so that the ratchet and reel 25 will be free to turn.

The frame D is provided near its rear end with a hose reel 35 having handles 36, by means of which it may be turned and also provided with oppositely arranged ratchet wheels 37 and 38. Posts 39 are located on either side of the reel 35 and near the ratchet wheels 37 and 38 thereon and upon these posts are supported the spring dogs or clicks 4.0 and 41 located to engage the oppositely facing ratchets 37 and 38. The spring tendency of these dogs or clicks holds the same in engagement with the ratchets and to release said clicks 40 and 41, pins 42 are carried by one arm 4.3 of a bell crank lever, whose other arm is connected by a hook 44: with a crank arm 15 carried by the shaft 46 supported in bearings from the projections 47 on the posts 39. Handles 48 are secured to said shaft 46 by means of which it can be turned to release said clicks.

One or two lines of hose can be wound upon the reel 35 and the nozzle ends of the said hose line 49 can be secured to the upper end of the lazy tong levers by the tongs 50, the jaws of which are held together by a suitable spring 51. When the lazy tong levers are hoisted it will also carry the hose line 19 as shown in Figs. 10 and 13.

As before described the frame D is pivoted to the bed 0 near its rear end and devices are arranged for elevating the'front end of the frame D so as to throw the upper end of the ladder or lazy tongs toward the burning building. In Fig. 10 this construction ,is illustrated. It will be understood that owing to the convenience of illustration, the lazy tong levers in said Fig. 10 are not as extensive as they will be in practice so that the upper end thereof is thrown considerably to one side from a perpendicular position. It will be further understood that if said lazy tongs were much longer than they are shown in said figure, the upper end of the same would be located considerably in the rear of the rear end of the truck, so that it would be possible to stand the truck in the street and throw the upper end of the ladder against the burning building. This is shown in Fig. 11, in which is shown only the upper part of the lazy tong levers but shows it at an incline sufficient to reach a building. The wall of the building is indicated by 52, and 53 indicates the window opening. The upper end of the lazy tong levers is provided with pivoted hooks 5t having a toothed hub or rear end 55 that is engaged by detent 56, so that when the lazy tong levers and ladders are thrown over to the window or building the said hooks 51 can be thrown inside of the window and hooked behind the sill thcreofas shown in Fig. 11, thereby steadying the upper end of the ladder and holding it in position.

It will of course be understood that when the ladder is to be shot or elevated, the truck must stand upon a firm foundation and it is not always possible to secure such a foundation in the neighborhood of the burning building owing to the inequalities of the street or surrounding property. In case the ground is uneven and the truck is unevenly supported, we have provided means whereby it can be elevated so that suitable blocks or supports can be placed under the wheels of the truck to give it a firm and even foundation. To this end horizontally swinging arms 57 are secured to standards 58 mounted upon the rear axle B. The said swinging arms 57 can only swing in a horizontal direction and can not move up or down and to the outer ends of said arm 57 the lifting levers 59 are pivoted and to said levers 59 a post or fulcrum support is pivoted ataslight distance from the pivotal connection between the arm 57 and the lever 59. Theupper end of the fulcrum support 60 is toothed and is engaged by a spring detent carried by the lifting lever, by means of which the lifting lever and fulcrum support can be rigidly secured relative to each other.

It will be plainly seen that by resting the lower end of the fulcrum support 60 upon the ground (Fig. 13) and throwing the outer end of the lever 59 downwardly the inner end of said lever 59 will elevate the arm 57 and consequently the truck of the fire ladder to any desired height. When the lifting devices just described are not in use, they can be snugly folded up and supported along the side of the truck as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,

by swinging the arm 57 around on its pivot and resting the fulcrum support 60 in brackets '61 at the side of the machine provided for such purpose.

In Figs. 13 and 14 we have shown an adjustable support or s'teadying device for the lazy tong levers. the stability of the apparatus will be increased if the said lazy tongs were steadied or sup ported at their sides and to accomplish this purpose the adjustable supports F are provided. Said supports F have hooked upper ends 62 that engage the lazy tongs at the crossing of two of its members as shown in Fig. 10, while the lower ends of said supports F rest upon the ground. Said supports are made in two pieces whereby they can be handled and carried with ease. The upper member of thesupport 63 consists of a rod having a hooked upper end 62 and a recessed lower end that receives a ,pin 64 on the lower member 65 of said support and is held for engagement thereon by detent 66 which engagesau opening 67 in the lower end of said rod. The lower end of said rod is also provided with a projection 68 having an eye that receives the upper end of the housing rod 69securedtothe'lowermember65. Thelower member 65 is toothed as at 70 and a sliding base support 71 is secured to the lower member and is provided at its upper end with a spring pawl 72 that engages the tooth 70. It will thus be seen that by sliding the pawl 71 upon the lower member 65 the said support F can be lowered to the ground. To the upper end.

of the-ladder E or to any partof the lazy tongs a suitable block or pulley 73 is secured and through this block, a cable or rope 7i runs, one end of which is drawn around a It will be understood that 76 elevated to the upper stories of the building. To allow the life-car to descend quickly a friction brake device is provided (Fig. 16) which consists of a friction'band 81 surrounding the roller 78 and provided with a handle 82 and it will. be readily seen that when it is desired to let the life-car down, the pawl can be disengaged from the ratchet whereupon the weight will lower the basket quickly and it can be stopped at any convenient point by the application of the friction brake in an obvious manner. It will be noted for instance that if the upper end of the ladder lies against the front of the building and it is desired to operate the life-car, said lifecar would normally travel up and down very' close to the building so that if the fire was of consequence the occupants of the life-car would be apt to be injured by the fire or smoke issuing out of the other windows of the building. To overcome this a guiding rope 83 is secured to the life-car 76 or to the cable 74: adjacent the life-car and said guiding rope 83 passes-around a cross piece 84 on the frame 77, and by means of this guiding rope, the life car can be held out from the burning building as it is being elevated and lowered. Pivotally and revolubly connected at one end is the post 90 on the swinging frame D with a screw threaded rod 91 that has a screw thread connection to the frame 77, and is provided at its free end witha hand wheel 92. By turning this rod the frame 77 is moved back and forth so that when not in use it can be swung close to the machine to be out of the way, and further, can be given any outward inclination to compensate for the extent to which the ladder and lazy tonged system lean. 1

It will be noted that in connection with the device for shifting the front end of the truck, when the lazy tongs are elevated and are adj a cent one Window of the burning building it can be changed from one to another at suitable distances by simply shifting the front end of the truck.

We claim as our invention- 1.. The combination substantially as herein? before set forth in a fire ladder, of a truck,a

reelmounted thereon, a ratchet wheel on said -reel, a pivoted spring detent 27 upon said truck having an arm 31 resting upon a 'sliding bar 32 provided-with an inclined edge 33, devices for sliding said bar, a system of lazy tong levers mounted upon said truck, and a flexible ladder wound upon said reel and hav- ICC ing one end connected with said lazy tong levers.

2. The combination substantially as hereinbefore setforth in a fire ladder, of a truck, a system of lazytong levers and aladder mounted thereon, a reel mounted upon said truck, and provided with oppositely arranged ratchet wheels, detents located to engage said ratchet wheels, and a line of hose pipe wound upon said reel and having one end connected with the upper end portion of said lazy tonglevers.

3. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth with areel having oppositely arranged ratchet wheels, of oppositely arranged detents engaging said ratchet wheels, movable arms located in engagement with said detents, and a shaft connected with both of said arms for moving the same.

4:. The combination substantiallyashereinbefore set forth in a fire ladder, of a truck and swinging frame mounted thereon, and having a horizontal pivotal connection with said truck near one end thereof, devices for swinging said frame on its pivot, a system of lazy tong levers, and a ladder mounted upon said swinging frame, said lazy tong levers being provided at their upper ends with pivoted hooks and detents for holding said hooks immovable.

5. A fire ladder truck having a laterally sliding connection at its forward end with axle of the wheels supporting the same, a segmental toothed rack mounted upon said axle, and a gear pinion carried by a shaft mounted upon said truck.

6. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth in a fire ladder, of a truck, outwardly extending arms 57 secured thereto, lifting, levers 59 pivoted to said arms 57, and fulcrum supports 60 pivoted to said levers.

7. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth in a fire ladder, of a truck, outwardly extending arms 57 secured thereto,

lifting levers 59 pivoted to said arms 57, and

fulcrum supports 60 pivoted to said levers and having also a ratchet and pawl connection therewith.

8. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, in a fire ladder, of a truck provided with atrackway 7 having overhanging flanges 11, and a system of lazy tong levers and a ladder mounted upon said truck, the lower legs 8 of said lazy tongs being provided with rollers!) resting upon said trackway, and friction rollers 10 secured to said legs 8 and locatedbeneath said overhanging flanges.

In testimony whereof we atfix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH PAULY. MICHEL MICI-IELS. Witnesses:

HARRY COBB KENNEDY, OTTO LUEBKERT. 

